PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathanial Mcconnell (ranked 6227 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boddah Johnson (ranked 4608 p4p, 0 weight class). Boddah Johnson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nathanial Mcconnell's chin.

Mcconnell
vs
Johnson

155 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
24
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathanial Mcconnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boddah Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mcconnell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The referee calls for Mcconnell to work.
Mcconnell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johnson to keep the fight standing.
Mcconnell tries to land a knee to the head but Johnson blocks with his arms.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Mcconnell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Boddah Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcconnell looks to throw a body kick

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Mcconnell kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to push Mcconnell away but Mcconnell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson is trying to push Mcconnell away but Mcconnell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mcconnell throws an elbow but it misses.
Mcconnell stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johnson tries to circle away but Mcconnell has him pinned against the cage.

Mcconnell pulls guard.
Mcconnell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.
Johnson stops Mcconnell from standing up.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Johnson gets to his feet - Mcconnell follows without any prompting.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mcconnell's waist but Mcconnell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Nathanial Mcconnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boddah Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
A lazy body kick from Mcconnell

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mcconnell's guard.
Johnson postures up.
Mcconnell could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Mcconnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson is looking for a triangle here but Mcconnell uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Mcconnell looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnson is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Mcconnell keeps moving and retains side control.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mcconnell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mcconnell working the head and body with strikes.
Johnson gets full guard.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mcconnell's guard.

Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mcconnell's guard.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Mcconnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcconnell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Mcconnell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Johnson drives through with a takedown into Mcconnell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mcconnell is looking to stand back up but Johnson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mcconnell.

Johnson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mcconnell to get to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcconnell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mcconnell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
An inside leg kick from Mcconnell misses.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mcconnell as he avoids it easily.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Mcconnell circles away easily

and Mcconnell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Mcconnell.
Mcconnell scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mcconnell has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Mcconnell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson tries to break the clinch but Mcconnell is controlling the position.

Mcconnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mcconnell quickly recovers to half guard.
Johnson trying to control the action but Mcconnell is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Johnson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mcconnell wants to get back to his feet.
Mcconnell scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Johnson manages to mount him!
Mcconnell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson avoids the attempt from Mcconnell to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson has control of Mcconnell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mcconnell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Johnson looking to control but Mcconnell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Johnson controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson wants to control but instead Mcconnell manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mcconnell sees it coming and defends easily.
Mcconnell looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mcconnell kicks off Johnson and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boddah Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcconnell leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Mcconnell gets tackled into the cage by Johnson. Johnson maintains the clinch.

Mcconnell breaks from the clinch.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mcconnell tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mcconnell to the ground. Mcconnell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mcconnell feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Mcconnell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mcconnell is standing up over Johnson. Johnson looks to escape but Mcconnell dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Johnson gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mcconnell manages to pass to mount!
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Mcconnell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Johnson looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Mcconnell breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mcconnell avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Mcconnell prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell working Johnson over with strikes here.
Johnson tries to hold on but Mcconnell pushes him away.
Johnson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mcconnell is staying active.
Mcconnell breaks from Johnson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
Johnson regains half guard.

Johnson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Johnson clinches up against the cage.
Johnson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nathanial Mcconnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boddah Johnson.
Johnson tries a body shot but Mcconnell blocks it.
Mcconnell stalls.
Mcconnell lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike from Mcconnell.

Mcconnell manages to break the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Mcconnell 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mcconnell tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson lands with a kick to the ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Johnson clinches with his opponent.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
Mcconnell closes the distance and clinches up with Johnson, looking for a takedown. Mcconnell pushes Johnson against the cage but Johnson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mcconnell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mcconnell wants it to stay on the feet.
Mcconnell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathanial Mcconnell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mcconnell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathanial Mcconnell!